Gurgaon: Crackers to be used only between 6pm and 10pm on Diwali

The DC has also issued directions that crackers should not be used within 100 metres of silent zones

The use of crackers that generate noise exceeding permissible limits has also been banned.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

With the Supreme Court banning sale of crackers in Delhi-NCR, in view of the rising air pollution, the Gurgaon administration has also imposed Section 144 in the city in continuation of the court directive and banned sale of crackers till October 31.

However, taking into account the fact that use of crackers has not been banned by the apex court, the Gurgaon deputy commissioner on Thursday issued an order allowing use of crackers on Diwali between 6pm and 10pm only.

The order issued by DC Gurgaon Vinay Pratap Singh reads, “The households/general public who have purchased crackers in the previous years or prior to issuance of directions by the apex court may use these crackers from 6pm to 10pm only. No person shall use rockets, fast-moving crackers or the dangerous type of ‘bombs”.

The DC also stated that there is a direct evidence linking deterioration of air quality to the use of firecrackers around the time of Diwali. Every year, in the months of October-November, air quality nosedives in the city and people, especially those suffering respiratory conditions, have a tough time.

The DC has also issued directions that crackers should not be used within 100 metres of silent zones. The use of crackers that generate noise exceeding permissible limits has been banned. Also, no person shall use fireworks within 500 metres of Indane gas bottling plants in Naya Gaon, Badshapur and Gurgaon.

Meanwhile, a team of Gurgaon police conducted a drive to assess the stock of crackers with dealers and wholesalers and to stop any sale in the city.

SDM Bharat Bhushan Gogia confirmed that the district administration officials took a ‘stock statement’ from wholesalers and refuted rumours that there were “raids” conducted.

“A stock statement has been taken from wholesalers and their firecracker stocks have been photographed and videographed to ensure that they don’t sell or transport goods on the sly. No sealing has been done and the owners were given the order in writing,” Gogia said.

He also said since the shops of many wholesalers were locked, it gave an impression that searches were being conducted but that was not the case.

A large police team also accompanied the officials on the stocktaking exercise to ensure that there was no untoward incident.